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Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Observation Date
3/22/2023
Observer Name
Kelly
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch
Location Name or Route
Twin Lakes Pass
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Skies broke briefly around 400pm. Winds were primarily from the west with gusts from the west-northwest. There was snow drifting and loading on leeward aspects-visibility was limited.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
It was snowing 1-2" an hour and winds were transporting snow from the west to the easterly facing slopes. Sensitive new snow cornices along the Twin Lakes Pass Ridgeline going up towards Home Run. I only saw new snow dry loose avalanches and did not see any propagation in the new snow. I would guess steeper areas with more wind-loading would be suspect.
Photo of dry loose avalanches north facing Patsy at 9900'. These ran naturally during a period of 2" an hour snowfall rates.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Lots of signs of red flags relating to the new storm snow and wind-loaded areas. I stuck to low angle slopes under 30 degrees.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Slab
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
With increasing winds I would expect this problem to continue. Any places that are getting wind-loaded are suspect.
Photo of cornice above Home Run
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,300'
Comments
Height of snow was over 400cm. Pit dug on a northwest facing slope at 9360'. No propagation with extended column tests (ECTX). There were 2 failures with in the top 2' of the snowpack that will most likely settle out with time.
There was a fracture with a shovel shear test on the layer 24" down (crystal card marking layer) and I observed some crystals with hard edges that looked like broken stellar crystals at this old/new interface.
ECTN 17 @ 1'
ECTN 21 @ 2'
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates

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